Redemption

by RustyKat

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Wonderbolts, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Sad, Main 6, Changelings, Original Character
Length: 3642

A pegasi learns his true destiny.

Gale is a Cloudsdale-born Canterlot pony. His mother, a pegasus called Gust, insisted that Gale had to be born in Cloudsdale to "feel the real wind in his wings." Nevertheless, she moved in with Gale’s father, Goldstein, a Canterlot aristocrat. Despite their residence being in the capitol, Gale still frequently visited his family in Cloudsdale, went to Junior Speedsters and lived the life of a normal young Cloudsdale pegasus. However, his father tried to make him more like himself – high-class.
Young Gale didn’t like being tied down with rules like that – like most young pegasi, he yearned for wind in his wings and a vast sky to fly through. This led to some problems with Gale’s father, naturally. Gale’s mother – a free spirit herself – supported her son instead.
As Gale got older, he – like most of his peers – wished to be admitted to the Wonderbolts. While a competent flier, he wasn’t anything extra. Nevertheless, he tried hard, trained and pushed himself to the limit. He even moved back to Cloudsdale so he could devote all his free time to practice.
During the Wonderbolt’s try-outs – a large lap through and around Cloudsdale – everything changed. At first, Gale’s agility and hours of training won him the first spot, but he soon found himself competing against a faster, stronger opponent, Blaze. Gale pushed himself like he never did, almost reaching supersonic speed. However, the track was mainly plotted with agility in mind. In a sharp turn, Gale lost control and crashed to a building.
The young pegasus was hurt during the accident. Not only he broke his wing, but he lost his left eye. His wing healed, but not perfectly. Coupled with the eye injury, Gale was shamed and broken. He knew he could never make it into the Wonderbolts now.
The pegasuse moved back to Canterlot, pondering the meaning of his life. He was rescued from his depression by his old schoolmate, Fleur. The pony shared his dream of joining the Royal Guard and insisted Gale would be a welcome addition as well. Reluctantly, Gale agreed.
The two friends trained together, quickly rekindling the almost-forgotten friendship of their youth. Eventually, they both got admitted, being mistaken for brothers at times.
Even with a promising career in the Guard, Gale sometimes still finds himself thinking what life could have been were it not for his injury.
Could he have been a Wonderbolt?

Would he have won the race?

But more importantly, would Fleur still become his best friend?

Published 2014-12-22 15:20:03 UTC
Last updated 2015-11-07 13:47:49 UTC

The story... begins.

Gale rolled his eyes once more. His parents were once again in a heated argument, like they usually did when one wanted to prove the other one wrong over the other.

"Gale needs to feel like a 'real' Pegasus.... feel the wind in his wings, not be some fancy snotty pony from Canterlot." Argued Gust, a blue Pegasus mare with a silver mane that she sometimes pushed out of her face. Her determined amber-eyed gaze held the anger and seriousness of her kind tone, meeting the eyes of the stallion in front of her.

"Psh... every Pegasus can fly Hun. What he needs is status... a name he can back under, and be remembered. Be someone important... different from the rest." Countered a golden-yellow unicorn stallion, named Goldstein. He gave his black mane a comb-over with his magic as he fixed his monticule.  "Perhaps meet the princess one day."

"I still don't see why anyone would live in a place like this one." Complained Gust. "It's way too gaudy."

"ENOUGH!!" shouted Gale, and he flattened his ears. "No matter where we live, and no matter what problems, we are still a family. I'd like us to at least try to get along here!?"

" ......I do suppose you are right." said Goldstein demurely.

"You're right." stated gale softly

Gale snapped back to reality, as he sat in the WonderBolt academy. Here he would prove himself to his parents that he was a true Pegasus, one with the air as a bird.... not some ordinary pony with useless wings.

""Alright you rookies, this is where we test your speed and dexterity," announced Spitfire.  "Above all is agility. I want to see some serious flying and no lollygagging." Spitfire paused to survey them all one last time. "Now, Let's see what you can do... GO!"

The pegasi took off at a fast takeoff, and cruised through the air.

"I bet Gale will be a fine WonderBolt." Began Fleetfoot. "I've never seen a pegasi other than Rainbow Dash try so hard to get into our ranks. His times are unbelievable."

"Ah, but he'll have to beat Blaze first." Chuckled Spitfire, as she pointed to an orange Pegasus with a red mane. "No one has beat him so far since he's gotten here.... not even Gale."

"Hey Gust," teased Blaze. "Could you fly any slower? Even I could fly faster than that!"

"Oh yeah?" said Gale slightly annoyed.

"Hey! Save that for the obstacle course!" Shouted Fleetfoot. "Don't want to tire you out too quickly."

"I'll crush you like a bug at the obstacle course." Teased Blaze. "That is... if you can attempt to beat me."

The two pegasi, landed at the finish line at the same time a bit out of breath, shortly followed by the other pegasi there.

"Just because you tied this time doesn't mean you'll beat me, Squatmug."

"We'll see about that!" Replied Gale hotly. "I'll rub your stupid short face all over in my victory!!"

After a short break and lunch in the WonderBolt academy cafeteria, the pegasi lined up at the obstacle course. It was lined with hoops, flythroughs, and things to avoid.

"Alright you rookies, we test your speed and dexterity here. Most important is agility here. I want to see some serious skills here, and not some lazy lollygagger. Go let's see what you can do. ....NOW!!" Shouted Spitfire.

The pegasi were off like a shot into the air.

Gale caught sight of Blaze right in front of him, and he grew angered. He pressed his wing speed harder, trying to overcome the red Pegasus from the left. Blaze cast the angered Pegasus an amused look and a mischievous grin.

"So SquatMug.... you think you can beat me? " He sneered, as he avoided an obstacle with ease. Gale followed, his anger giving him strength, and a dark thought coursed through his head. For the first time ever, he thought about pushing his limits. He flapped his wings harder, gaining speed in the air. Gale felt the wind in his mane... and a thrill, for he had never flew this fast before. He easily sped past Blaze in a grey streak of color, and a chuckle.

"Take that! So easy for a Squatmug, huh?"

Blaze gave a scowl as he went through the obstacle course. It's about skill, not speed you idiot... but even so, i'll still be better than you.

But Gale found it hard to avoid obstacles going this fast, and he made a sharp turn..... too sharp. He felt himself loose control..... and he crashed. The last thing he could remember was pain..... mind-numbing agonizing pain.... and the cruel laughter of Blaze in the distance, before everything faded to black.

~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

It was some time before consciousness finally found him, although it was a bit before he stirred. A soft voice he heard in the room.

"Oh, you're finally awake. How do you feel?" It was Nurse Redheart by the door, clipboard in hoof.

He blinked and.....something wasn't right. He was in a hospital room, on one of the beds.

"I'm so sorry about your eye... we couldn't save it."

With horror, Gale gingerly put a hoof over the bandage that was over the empty socket of his left eye. Couldn't save it.... oh, the mercy...

"W...what happened?" He asked, his voice filled with fear. "I...is the rest of me okay?"

"Well, you crushed a wing, but that'll heal."

Gale buried his face in his hooves, not wanting to believe what was being said to him.

"You turned too sharply going too fast.... and crashed into a building. Be glad that the speed you were going you didn't kill yourself.... be glad that mare brought you in here."

It's all my fault.... he thought through a dull throb of pain. What will my parent's think? "Wait... what mare?" He asked curiously.

"There was a mare in a disguise...." said Redheart. "A changeling mare."

"Wait, A..A changeling!?" He sputtered in shock.

Saved by a changeling.... how pathetic can I get? Why a changeling!?

The guard code.

"I did." Said a voice suddenly. It was a changeling in the disguise of a nurse earth pony. A mare with a blue coat and a darker blue mane. Her eyes were the oddest shade of amber.

Redheart gave a chuckle. "But you're just an earth pony nurse."

"Am I?" The earth pony quickly cloaked itself in flames that licked at it's sides, revealing a hard black chitin, the delicate  transparent membrane wings...... The compound red eyes, and sharp white fangs.....

Gale recoiled slightly at the changeling's reveal. "W.....why did you save me?" He asked with a bit of fear.

"Because..." The changeling took the form of a white Pegasus with a blond mane and blue eyes, "I may be changeling, but I am still royal guard. You were in trouble.... so I helped you."

Gale saw the bandage on her side, and dimly remembered his landing wasn't as hard as it should of been when he crashed. He realized she must of placed herself between the building and him.

That must of hurt.....

"Uh.... thank you." said Gale awkwardly. "You didn't have to do that you know."

"I do a lot of things I don't have to do." She simply said. "It is a part of life."

There was a long awkward pause. finally, Gale spoke, and broke the silence.

"Thank you."

The changeling looked at him with a bit of surprise. That's the first thank you I've ever received....

"You are welcome. My name is Ebony."

"My name is Gale. Gale Tradewind."

"Nice to meet you." She said with a small note of a smile. "Perhaps we'd meet again." And with that said, she left the room.

"Ebony..." Said Gale thoughtfully. I like how that sounds. So.... unique.

Redheart gave a chuckle. "You've met a new friend it seems."

~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

The days seemed to go by quite fast, until it was the day for Gale to leave the hospital. Although he had gotten a new eye, he did not like the scar across it from his incident, and so preferred to keep it under an eye patch, since he couldn't see very well in the eye anyway. He stretched his wings, and flattened his ears. His crushed wing didn't heal right, so he couldn't fly very well. But he thought of his parents, and decided to pay them a visit in Canterlot.

A while of long walking later, he finally reached his parent's house, and knocked on the door.

I sure hope I don't scare them too much.......

The door opened, and his mother met him with a gasp of surprise.

"What happened to you?" she asked worriedly. "What happened to your eye?"

"I...I screwed up. Father was right. I should of stayed on the ground.,...."

After a bit of explaining. Gust shook her head sadly in disappointment.

"I told you never to push yourself...."

"If I can't be a WonderBolt, what use am I?" said Gale sadly. "With my wing healed wrong, and bad eyesight, they'd never take me. I'm just a broken Pegasus."

Gust met Gale's sternly. "Broken, but still alive. Everyone has a purpose. That's what your grandpa used to always say."

"Tsk... you always say that." Said Gale irritated.

"H....Have you forgotten your other dream? The one to join the royal guard?" asked Gust hesitantly. "I'm sure Fleur would join you as well."

"Oh yeah....." It's been so long since I last saw Fleur...... "Thanks mother."

"Any time." Gust replied with a light chuckle. "Although you may not soar in the air, you soar in everyone of our hearts. Be careful dear."

"I will." He said with a wave of goodbye, and took off to find Fleur. Fleur was a red unicorn with a white mane.

Fleur is probably trying to hit on the female guards again...... Last time he did, one hurt him pretty badly.

"Hey there, pretty face." Said Fleur, trying to hit on a grey unicorn mare guard. "How about we hang sometime?"

"You disgusting freak." She replied. "Isn't one trip to the hospital enough to tell you I'm not interested in civilians like you?"

"No... you must break more than one bone with creeps like this..." Said Turtle shell, a grey Pegasus guard with an eyepatch and a reign. "He must suffer in pure agony... " No one said anything about how awkward wearing a reign was because they were scared of Turtle.

"Okay okay.." quickly said Fleur with a small scared note. "No need for violence." I'll forever be alone.... at least with her around.

"Fleur! What did I say about picking up guard mares?" Said Gale with an amused tone. "They'll break you into sand."

Fleur gave a small gasp of surprise. "W...What happened to you...."

"Well... it was my fault actually.... "

"Was it Blaze again? I swear... one day, he'll cause his own downfall."

"Yeah... I pushed too hard, and went too fast. Sure, it was exhilarating...... the wind through my mane and the confidence...... but I turned to sharply, and crashed badly. Luckily, someone broke my fall."

"Ouch.... wait, really?" Asked Fleur curiously. "Who was it?"

"A royal guard mare named Ebony."

Fleur gave a laugh. "You lucky foal. I wish that happened to me. I bet she likes you."

"... I never thought of that." He said with a sheepish chuckle. "I was thinking of joining the Royal guard."

"So was I! " Said Fleur with glee. "We have so much in common, just like the old times. This won't be that bad. Besides... we could do anything we wanted."

The Royal Guard Training

"Yes, I suppose." Replied Gale with a lighthearted chuckle. "And I'd bet we'd look good in the shining gold armor too."

"Just imagine... the mares would be flocking to us like bees to honey....I could just picture it now."

"what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

With this said, the two headed into the castle to sign up for the royal guard.

"Hey, we're supposed to look for a one-winged blue alicorn with three scars across one eye named Light Arrow." Said Fleur nervously. "I heard he's as strict as stone."

"Yeah, but he's a really great leader. He's the oldest one in the force. I heard he's hardened himself since he had one bad past..... something about watching both of his parents die at a really young age."

"Ouch. that would be simply awful if that ever happened to me. I wonder how he ever coped? I mean, with their death.... That would be so hard to take."

Gale shrugged. "Who knows? I'd like to try to wield a sword against shining Armor in practice. I heard he's a damn skillful swordsman pony... with a beautiful wife."

Fleur gave a lighthearted chuckle. "He'd probably cut you to feathery ribbons Gale.... and she's probably get you for that comment."

Soon, They came face to face with Light Arrow himself. He was just a tad taller than them, and they could see his hard silver gaze look them over with a razor edge. His only wing was folded closely to his side, and his dark blue mane was medium length. They could see the scarred eye was blind with it's milky white film over it, but didn't take away from his intimidating gaze. They took notice his armor was a bit deeper golden color than the other guards as well, and Gale assumed he kept his armor in great shape for being so old. There was a slight crack in the stallion's horn, but it did not inhibit his magic.  Finally, Light Arrow broke the silence with his hard deep voice.

"So... you want to join the royal guard eh?" The voice was a bit cold. "You'd take any risk to protect the princess at any cost? Even at the sake of your own life?"

"Y..Yes. I would die for Celestia any day." Said Gale. I always wanted to say that....

"Uh... me too." Said Fleur quickly. He's creepy....

"Very well then." replied Light Arrow with a slight amused expression. "We'll see about that.... provided you don't get killed on duty. Follow me."

He led them through the hallways of the castle, before he led them into a large room. A black unicorn stallion with a white mane was there, polishing a sword with great care.

"Nox, could you see what these two are worth? They wish to join the force."

The stallion stopped and looked over the two stallions sharply.

"Well, it seems you've got a knack for findin' the.... unique ones." He replied with a chuckle. Broken is more like it........I doubt the Pegasus will last as long as Arrow.

"Can you test them for a skill they'd be good in?"

"Certainly...." He handed Fleur and Gale each a wooden sword. "Why not train with Light Arrow fellas?"

"Wow... really!?" exclaimed  Gale. "That would be so cool!" Not as cool as fighting with Shining Armor, but still cool.....

Light Arrow unsheathed a wooden sword as well.

"Try not to hurt them too much Light Arrow." Warned Nox. "Although dull, they can still hurt."

After a brief pause, Gale broke the silence. "I'll go first."

They take a defensive pose, on guard, but alert for the other's attacks.  Gale attacked suddenly. The two stallions Rushed at each other, trading feints, thrusts and parries with lightning speed, almost impossible to follow. On guard, Light Arrow took a step around an imaginary circle. Gale stepped the other way, maintaining his relationship with Arrow.  They continued to step around the circle.

"And so we circle, circle, like dogs, we circle ..." said Arrow craftily.

They stopped in the same positions they first started with.

It's a good thing I learned from TV.... Thought Gale as he blocked a blow from Arrow's sword with his own. Otherwise I'd be mincemeat.

They held their swords up in the air, and clashed again. Finally though, Gale took a light but firm smack from the wooden sword.

"Owwwww......."

"You mustn't let up your guard, not even for a moment." He turned his hard gaze to Fleur. "Let's see what you're made of." He held his sword out in a attack pose. "Attack me with your best shot."

"You forget... I've trained with my father!" He struck the wooden sword quickly, blocking the quick blows that soon followed. Blow was met for blow, and he nearly struck Arrow in the chest, had Arrow not blocked it at the last second.

Arrow gave an amused chuckle. "Much potential these two have.... They'll make fine swordsman ponies."

"I'd say.... that's the first time in years anypony ever even got close to beating you." said Nox with a chuckle. "Getting a bit old?

Arrow smacked Nox at the back of the head.

"Ow, I'm sorry. I forgot how seriously you take this job." said Nox, ears flattened. "I'm just a rookie you know."

"Rookies better know their place. Never say something stupid... or they'll regret it."

On Guard

"And this is where we guard. A note..... you must be unshakable. Always never show emotion when you are on duty....."

Fleur snickered. "You said duty."

Arrow gave Fleur a cold unamused stare. "And none of that, or you'll find out what happens to the bad soldiers...... it's not pretty."

He watched as Fleur shuddered. "I...I'm sorry."

You will be soon enough. "Now.... let me show you what a true guard looks like." He lead then outside halfway, where a white Pegasus with a blue mane was standing, still as a statue. They watched as a rainbow mare tried her best to make the guard react... even in the slightest way, and it didn't work. It was as if the stallion was turned to stone. A changeling took the same disguise as the rainbow mare and tried, but to no avail.

I shall not react. The guard sat, unamused by the things Rainbow and the changeling were doing to get him to react.

"Oh, I know..." said the disguised changeling as she plucked a feather from her wing and began to tickle the guard gently. the guard tried hard to not laugh.

"Good idea!" chimed Rainbow Dash, as she joined in with a feather.

Finally, he couldn't take it any longer, and ended up with a chuckle. "Okay ladies, stop."

"Not until I get you to laugh." said the disguised changeling darkly. The two mares continued to tickle the stallion until he ended up laughing hard.

"O..okay... stop." he said, ears flattened.

"Aha, success!" chimed the disguised changeling as she gave a hoofbump to the rainbow mare, and they both took off.

"You were outnumbered." said Arrow slightly amused. "Unshakable? I think not. Work on it Starboard."

"B...but... they had feathers..." he began, ears flattened. "Really soft ones too."

Arrow gave a long sigh as he face-hoofed gently. Sometimes I wonder just how these stallions and mares ever became a guard in the first place.......

There was a period of silence before Starboard sighed.

"You're right Arrow. I'll never be unshakable if I keep worrying about feathers and changelings."

"Good." Finally.... a guard that learns from his mistakes.

"Hey, who's that?" snickered Fleur., as he pointed to an overweight stallion in guard armor. The stallion was silver-ish grey, with black hair, and he was a unicorn. Gale questioned just how exactly this guard got even in his armor, or more important, how he could even do his job.

"Looks like a big guard marshmellow." commented Gale with a chuckle. The stallion noticeably flattened his ears.

"This is Greythorn. Although a bit.... bigger than most guards, he does his job well." He isn't too bright though... and easily distracted..... Greythorn notably unflattened his ears, admiring the praise he just received.

Gale wanted to ask just exactly how one would do a job like this well in such a condition, but he kept his mouth shut. Royal guards never ask a question unless it is absolutely necessary....their actions speak for them.

"So, you're the new recruits, eh?" said Greythorn as he looked them over. "I see great promise in you two."

Starboard and the new recruits

"And I see great heaviness in you." teased Fleur. "May the chub be with you."

Greythorn flattened his ears and gave Fleur a cold gaze. "Sometimes it is an advantage to be like this you know.... But i'd like some respect."

"My apppologies, Mr. Greythorn, sir." said Gale as he saluted. "For we are not true soldiers of the force." What advantage!?

"Hey, look at that." said Fleur as he pointed to one of the guards that had fallen asleep while on duty.

The stallion was a white Pegasus with a dark blue mane.

"Oh, that's Starboard." said Greythorn. "He's not terribly too bright... but he does his job well."

"S...should we wake him up?" asked Gale. Sleeping on the job is against code policy.....

"I got this." said Fleur. "Yo, attention!!"

Starboard woke with a start, and a salute. "O..on guard." he replied, ears flattened. "I..i wasn't asleep. I was just.... resting my eyes."

"Sleeping is against policy Starboard." said Arrow crossly. "I don't want to see it happen again."

"Y...yes, of course, LightArrow, sir." Starboard said nervously with a salute.

He watched as LightArrow walked off before giving a sigh of relief. That alicorn scares me....

"So.... I guess as long as you do your job, he doesn't care if you do it well or not?" Asked Gale curiously.

"Aw sweet. I could look like Starboard if I wanted and sleep all the time,  provided I looked like I was on duty."

Starboard flattened his ears at this comment.

"I've been here longer than you have sirs.... I would advise you keep your mouth shut and keep word like a guard, not a small colt."